By 2050, the United Nations estimates that 75% of the global population will be living in cities. In the context of displacements, cities and urban centres are already increasingly becoming more attractive for refugees. Up to 60 percent of the world’s 19.5 million refugees live in cities and towns, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). As the world becomes more urban, the refugee population in cities and towns is likely to grow. The East Africa region hosts about 4.5 million refugees and 8.8 internally displaced persons. Uganda hosts more than 1.5 million refugees. Most of the refugees live in rural settlements in northern and Southwestern Uganda. But the number choosing to live in urban centres, especially in Kampala, is on the rise. By January 2022, Kampala had a population of 80,087 refugees and 27,676 asylum seekers, bringing the total population to 107,763.
The mention of refugees conjures up images of the poor living in shanty and sprawling settlements. In cities, refugees face multiple obstacles ranging from policy, perception and legal challenges. In Uganda, there are indicators of unawareness among the general population and the private sector about refugees’ right to work in the country, making it hard for skilled refugees to access the labour market. These, among others, undermine the ability of refugee hosting countries to put to good use an otherwise productive work force with a potential to contribute to national development. In the 1980’s when Uganda was undergoing tumultuous times, Ugandan professionals fled to neighbouring countries like Kenya where many set up flourishing businesses in the private sector while others worked for the government. Renowned Uganda businessman and entrepreneur Matin Aliker is one case in point. In his autobiography—The Bell is Ringing— Aliker writes about how he set up a successful dentistry practice in Nairobi. In the large scheme of things of 1980’s displacements, Aliker may have been an exception, but he nevertheless still proves the point that refugees are often made of professionals with skills needed in the labour markets of the host countries.
In the Kampala suburb of Kabalagala, Ethiopians and Eritreans are running hotels, supermarkets and coffee shops. In Kisenyi neigbourhood in central Kampala, the streets are dotted with Somali run businesses. The Congolese run fancy dress shops and salons. Some of the businesses are formal and pay taxes to Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA).
Some studies have been conducted to investigate refugees’ economic and social potential. One such study on women refugees was conducted in 2019 by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security. The study estimated that if employment and earnings gender gaps were closed in each of the top 30 refugee-hosting countries, it could generate up to $1.4 trillion in the global economy.
For refugees to be self-reliant, in Uganda, they need more than a change in attitudes and perceptions. Uganda has rightly been hailed globally for its progressive policy that enables refugees to enjoy freedom of movement, right to access basic services and the right to work.
But skilled and enterprising refugees still face challenges in accessing the labour market and setting up small business to earn the much-needed livelihood to be self-reliant. This can be addressed through practical implementation of refugee laws and policies that promote economic self-reliance of refugees. When this is done, Uganda, a country with more than 1.5 million refugees can exploit the untapped productive potential in refugees.
By Leadership Reporter
